Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Thoughts

"Speech"

Chapter 10

"BOY! GET IN HERE!" Yugi sighed as he put down the sheets and walked into the next room. Mistress Kanika sat in front of her wardrobe, frowning. She looked up as he walked in.

"Is something wrong," Yugi asked as politely as he could. Maybe she spotted yet another non-existent stain and will force me to wash them for the sixth time today…

"My clothes don't look right." Yugi looked at her incredulously. What? No order to wash them again?

"B-beg pardon," Yugi stuttered.

Mistress Kanika rolled her eyes and spoke slowly. "My clothes," she pointed, "look wrong. They. Are. Faded. Why is that," she asked, staring at him as if trying to see into his soul.

Yugi took a deep breath before speaking. How to say this without sounding disrespectful… "It could have something to do with them getting washed about six times today." Yugi opened his eyes when no response of any kind was made. Mistress Kanika glared at him.

"And who washed them six times?"

Yugi resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. He knew where this was headed. "Me," he stated.

"And what on earth gave you the idea you needed to wash them that many times?" As if the idiot didn't truly know. Yugi closed his eyes before rolling them.

"You said to me many times today that you saw a spot on the clothes so I was to wash them all again. So I did." Uhh, that didn't sound quite like he hoped.

"Are you saying this is my own fault," Mistress Kanika hissed. Yugi shook his head. Not aloud I'm not, he thought.

"Not meaning any disrespect, mistress, but it was you who ordered me to wash them I was only following orders. Though, you should be happy I didn't wash them the eleven times like you told me to. They really would've been faded." He said the last word hesitantly as he watched her face go from outrage of her own suspicions to dangerous anger.

"You neglected my order?" Mistress Kanika's face was of pure venom and glee. Of course she skips the fact her clothes would have ended worse. And I suppose I'll be punished now, for thinking it shouldn't be done. Great…What'll it be this time? These thoughts ran through Yugi's head as he watched her go to the door and whisper something. Yugi sighed and left to the other room to finish his chore.

A few minutes later, Master Abubakar walked, face dark and eyes glowering. "What did you say to my wife slave," he growled when he saw Yugi.

Yugi stared at him with wide eyes, not quite wondering why he was back from training so early. Ohh…She must have sent for him. But why? If she were to punish me, can't she do it herself? Unless…Oh no. Please Gods, no… Yugi cried out in shock when Master Abubakar grabbed the front of his tunic and lifted him into the air.

"Speak boy, or you'll regret your silence," he threatened. Yugi opened his eyes and quit struggling to get out of the choking grasp. He opened his mouth to speak when she spoke first.

"He ruined my clothes dear husband. And he dares accuse me of causing it! I wish to see him punished for his insolence," Mistress Kanika growled at her husband. Master Abubakar nodded at her and threw Yugi on the floor. Yugi gasped as he hit the floor hard. He slowly tried to get up but felt the sharp pain of what he expected to come on his back. The crack sounded and he felt it again.

"AAAAHHH!" Yugi fell back to the floor, and remained still till he stopped. The snap and crack of the whip lasted several minutes and the stinging pain he felt whenever the leather cut into his back made it seem longer. Yugi felt the blood drip and roll off his back and soon the tears followed and mixed into the red pool.

Someone…Please help me…Mother…Atem…Help…Please…

Atem strolled through the corridors after talking with his uncle about Yugi. Aknadin promised the young prince he would talk to Yugi's masters about the matter of giving him to the prince. Atem smiled. At least Yugi would be with him. Not yet but soon.

Hi smile faded when the soft sound of whimpers reached his ears. Atem started walking faster and when he turned the corner, the sight broke his heart.

"Yugi?" The amethyst-eyed boy looked up, tears streaming down his face. The torchlight cast shadows on him as he sat on the stone floor, hugging his knees. Atem walked up to him and knelt down. "Yugi, what's wrong," Atem asked.

Yugi looked into his eyes and the tears fell harder. "I knew better…I shouldn't have said anything…Why was I so stupid? I'm sorry…" Yugi closed his eyes and leaned against Atem. The prince placed a hand in Yugi's hair and slowly stroked it.

"What are you talking about," Atem asked. Silence. "Yugi?" Atem looked down at him and the firelight caught something shining on his friend's back. Atem went to grab it only to bring his hand back in disgust. It was wet and when the prince looked at his hand, it was red.

Blood.

Yugi was covered with blood…And right now, he wouldn't wake up.

Atem swallowed back the bile that worked its way up his throat and gently shook Yugi. "Yugi? Please Yugi, wake up and tell me you're okay." He knew Yugi wasn't okay but Atem wanted him to open his beautiful amethyst eyes just for him to know he was alive. Atem gently shook him again but stopped when the hand he placed on Yugi's back was covered anew with a gush of blood. The wound is recent. I need to get him help now.

"IIIIIIISSSIIIIIIIIIIIISS! MAHAAAAAAAD! SOMEONE! HEEEEELLLP!" Mahad and Isis broke out of their liplock when they heard the yell. They looked at each other, their dark eyes growing wide.

"Wasn't that Atem," Isis asked breathlessly. Mahad nodded and both adults rushed out from behind the curtains and ran to the source of the voice.

They found Atem laying on the floor, cradling Yugi, tears streaming down his face. Atem looked at them through a blurry vision and turned his focus back to the limp form in his arms. Mahad stared at him.

"My prince, what's wrong?" Mahad stepped closer and noticed a pool of dark liquid surrounding the "twins". He heard Isis gasp and felt her hide her face in his shoulder.

"He's- he's…I didn't know what…What happened? Will he be okay?" Atem's voice was full of worry, but Mahad knew he was in shock. His empty, breathless, shaky voice and vacant blurry gaze gave evidence to that.

Isis detached herself and knelt beside the prince and put two fingers to Yugi's neck. She looked up at Mahad. "His pulse is weak. We need to get him to a better environment so I can treat him properly." Mahad nodded and reached underneath Yugi's body.

"Atem," he whispered slowly, "I know this may be hard for you, but you have to get up. You can sit down again once we've moved him, alright?" Atem numbly nodded. They gently lifted Yugi up and Isis cried out when the blood started dripping from his back. She ripped off her headdress before the sight affected her anymore and pressed it against his wounds.

An hour later, Atem lay with his head on the bed, his hand grasping Yugi's. Isis had finished cleaning and dressing Yugi's wounds a while ago and left Atem to keep him company. Atem had watched him before resting his head. He was asleep in seconds.

When he woke he prayed for Yugi to wake up and get better.

A sixteen year-old Atem stood by the marker of his beloved. The small tablet looked worse for wear by all the sandstorms that blew over it and slowly wore the hieroglyphics down. A single tear rolled its crystallic path down the tanned cheek of the prince. Atem knelt down and caressed away the weeks dust from the headstone.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't get the chance to tell you I loved you. You died too soon." Atem sat there and the tears were followed by sobs. The wind blew gently across the city and a single heart-wrenching word broke through the prince's mourning.

"Yugi…"